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Silver Wave Film Festival showcases UNB community s talent

The Silver Wave Film Festival announced their 2015 program on Friday, Oct. 23, at an event at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre, with many films directed and produced by University of New Brunswick (UNB) students, alumni, faculty and staff.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the festival, created by the New Brunswick Filmmakers’ Co-operative, which celebrates the province’s talent and growing presence in the film and television industry while showcasing films from the Atlantic region and around the world.

Nearly half of the films featured at the New Brunswick Shorts Gala this year were directed and/or produced by UNB students, alumni, faculty and staff.

Gordon Mihan is one of the UNB entrants featured in this year’s festival. A current student in UNB's faculty of business administration, Mihan directed the film Referent and co-directed the film Co-ed with UNB alumna Britany Sparrow. Both will be featured at the New Brunswick Shorts Gala.

Matt Rogers, a UNB alumnus, also makes a strong appearance at this year’s festival. He produced the film The Last Take, which came directly from a production class in the university's department of film studies, and was also involved in the production of eight additional films that will be featured this year. Those that he directed or produced include: Ricochet, Merzetti, a list, Withdrawn, and Pocket Change.

Dr. Robert Gray, associate professor in the department of English, film studies and creative writing, directed two films (aidos and Choke Hold) and produced two films (Ricochet and a list) for the festival. Dr. Gray will also moderate a panel entitled "Developing & Strengthening Our Film Communities Through Education” on Nov. 6 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre, as part of the Silver Wave Industry Series.

The Silver Wave Film Festival will take place Nov. 5 to 8. For more information on the films, festival locations and costs, please see the website.

Congratulations to the UNB community on their exciting contributions to this year’s Silver Wave Film Festival!

For a complete list of films directed or produced by UNB students, alumni, faculty and staff, please see below:

Coast to Coast Shorts

Nov. 6 at 9:30 p.m. at Tilley Hall, UNB Campus

Cost: $5 general admission

Ricochet:

Director: Jon Dewar, Amy Bourgaize, Matt Rogers

Writer: Robert W. Gray

Producer: Matt Rogers.

“Three individuals in isolated worlds pinball and collide, and then must reconcile among the fallout.”

The Last Take (world premiere)

Producer: Matt Rogers

“A young man struggles to cope with the death of his older brother by incorporating unusual habits into his daily life.”

Midnight Madness (Murder, Ghosts & Time Travel)

Nov. 6 at 11:59 p.m. at Tilley Hall, UNB Campus

Cost: $3 general admission

Merzetti (world premiere)

Director: Matt Rogers, Jon Dewar

Writer: Matt Rogers.

“Legend has it that the Charlotte Street Arts Centre is haunted by a ghost known only as ‘Merzetti’. Local naysayer Eric Iversen sets out to put this fantasy to rest.”

The Man Who Loved Flowers (world premiere)

Director/Writer/Producer: Jared Carney

“A romantic horror film dealing with the dark nature of love, heartbreak, and delusion.”

New Brunswick Shorts Gala

Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. at Le Centre communitaire Saint-Anne

Cost: $15 general admission

Referent (world premiere)

Director: Gordon Mihan

Writer/Producer: Gordon Mihan, Lance Blakney.

“A man goes about his day seeing glimpses into an ethereal daydream. As the day progresses and the dream becomes more sinister and violent, lines begin to blur.”

aidos (New Brunswick premiere)

Director/Writer: Robert W. Gray

Producer: Robert W. Gray, Jon Dewar

“By the time Ben died, 21 people declared their romantic love for him.”

a list (world premiere)

Director/Writer: Matt Rogers

Producer: Jon Dewar, Robert Gray

“A man apathetically watches the world goby as he works a dead end job. This all changes when the grocery list and wallet of a wealthy man come into his possession.”

Withdrawn (world premiere)

Producer: Matt Rogers

“A young man facing anxiety sits alone in his bedroom; he practices his social skills before attending an event.”

Choke Hold (world premiere)

Director/Writer: R.W. Gray

Producer: Matt Rogers, Jon Dewar, R.W. Gray

“Pete and Bobby have been going to the same parties since Chris Hansen’s 10th birthday, but they have never talked, never been friends. A challenge leads both men into unexpected territory where they find that sometimes you got to get unconscious to get conscious.”

Co-Ed (world premiere)

Director/Writer/Producer: Gordon Mihan, Britany Sparrow

“When a mix up at registration puts him in an all-girls dorm, Jody meets his new roommate Alex, a girl who will stop at nothing to ruin his time at school.”

Standing Up (world premiere)

Director: Pierre Huard

“Philippe has a bully, and no one is on his side. He quickly learns that sometimes words just aren’t enough.

What is Your Name (New Brunswick premiere)

Director: Mark Hemmings

“A collaboration between photographer/filmmaker Mark Hemmings and poet Clyde A. Wray, based on our often failed desire to look past ourselves and ask the stranger what their name is.”

Short Docs II (Memory & Change)

Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre

Cost: FREE

Pocket Change

Producer: Amy Bourgaize, Matt Rogers

“A film produced by FHS students that looks at equity issues facing the transgender community and the small changes necessary to gender inclusion in educational contexts.”